Politics & Government

Marine Charged in DUI Death Ponders Plea Bargain

Andrew Stueber was behind the wheel in San Clemente when his vehicle was split in half after slamming into a tree. Prosecutors say he was drunk at the time of the crash.

A 27-year-old man will announce today whether he has accepted a plea bargain from an Orange County Superior Court judge in connection with a crash that killed a friend and injured two others in 2009.

If Andrew Stueber rejects the offer from Orange County Superior Court Judge James Rogan, jury selection is scheduled to begin Wednesday, Deputy District Attorney Nancy Hayashida said.

Hayashida declined to comment on the terms of the plea bargain, which was offered Monday. A message left with defense attorney Rob Harley was not returned.

Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Stueber is charged with gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He was a Marine stationed at Camp Pendleton when he crashed a Ford Mustang just after 2 a.m., Aug. 1, 2009, killing 22-year-old Edmund Vandecasteele and injuring Robert Nichols, who was 22 at the time, and Kyle Nance, who was 21, prosecutors said. They victims were all passengers in the car, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors say Stueber was driving on Avenida Vista Montana in San Clemente at twice the 35 mph speed limit when he lost control of the car, veered across the street and slammed into a tree with such force it split the car in half.

Find out what's happening in San Clementewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Stueber, who had been drinking with friends at Goody's Tavern, suffered head injuries and was taken to a hospital, where he was found to have a blood- alcohol level of .09 percent two hours after the crash, prosecutors said.

Vandecasteele, who was in the front seat of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene. Nichols and Nance, who were in the back seat, suffered cuts and bruises

Stueber was arrested at Camp Pendleton July 8, 2010, in connection with the deadly crash.

—City News Service


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here